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Tendon stem progenitor cells: Understanding the biology to inform therapeutic strategies for tendon repair
Author(s) -
Walia Bhavita,
Huang Alice H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.24156
Subject(s) - tendon , progenitor cell , stem cell , regeneration (biology) , medicine , regenerative medicine , bioinformatics , biology , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology
Tendon and ligament injuries are a leading cause of healthcare visits with significant impact in terms of economic cost and reduced quality of life. To date, reparative strategies remain largely restricted to conservative treatment or surgical repair. However, these therapies fail to restore native tendon structure and function; thus, the tissue may re‐rupture or degenerate with time. To improve tendon healing, one promising strategy may be harnessing the innate potential of resident tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) to guide tenogenic regeneration. In this review, we outline recent advances in the identification and characterization of putative TSPC populations, and discuss biochemical, biomechanical, and biomaterial methods employed for their culture and differentiation. Finally, we identify limitations in our current understanding of TSPC biology, key challenges for their use, and potential therapeutic strategies to inform cell‐based tendon repair. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1270–1280, 2019.